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Before the last class let out, I was stopped at the door by Veronica and Claire. They had been two of Cassie's friends, the other half of her otherwise horrible exterior, and had been giving me looks for days.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQlG1k9TrF
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"We have to talk to you," Veronica said. "It's important."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwfx2Pd38y
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"It couldn't possibly be," I said, rolling my eyes. "The two of you have never had anything important or nice to say to me in four years. So what is it?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hZgsnZiQ8
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"It's about Cassie," Claire offered kindly, stepping forward. She looked extremely sad at the mention of her friend. "She didn't hate you, you know. She put on an act and she wanted you to know that before she was--"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ3lhlM3M6
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"I guess you didn't go to the funeral," Veronica muttered. "But why would you when you thought she hated you? Maybe you should have gone, Kendall, that way you'd have known the truth."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin7YSiGcGr
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"What are you talking about?" I asked, annoyed.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUJeaU3O4b
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Claire spoke next, her voice tight, small.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi2L00k3KX
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"Cassie's mom told us that Cassie wrote a bunch of letters before she died, to the people she had hurt in her lifetime, and she wanted you to have this."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aZDBk5klK
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When Claire passed me an envelope, I stared at it before putting it in my pocket. All I wanted now was to get out of this room, to get as far away from these people as I could. I didn't want to be reminded about Cassie Winter's death, because I thought about it every time I closed my eyes at night.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR07JEWMcOD
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So I left.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntipfSt1Mz
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On the way out into the parking lot, after being pushed by several students because they couldn't just wait to leave, a hand fell on my shoulder. It gripped tightly at first, whirling me around. I spun and faced a pair of forest green eyes.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgjB5R0duK
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Jude dropped his hand and frowned. "Didn't you hear me calling you?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1iVHGaiRC
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"No," I said, shaking my head.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TheUyHMjb
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"In your own world, huh?" He smiled. "Mind if I join you there?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXWf0ceVuq
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"You wouldn't like my world," I told him, and it was true. He wouldn't do well there. "It's full of horrible things."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr9RbJLBtZ
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"Like monsters?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf13RLh3eh
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I suddenly wished the only thing in my world that I had to worry about were monsters. Before I said another word, an arm went around my waist, pulling me close. I inhaled the scent of cinnamon.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunJrcPqd8k
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"Hey," Christian said roughly into my ear.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3CdLl7cQC
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"Hi," I said, winding my own arm around his body. I stared into his hazel eyes, but they weren't looking at me.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaG6VCysO2
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"Hello, Christian," Jude said softly, inclining his head politely. "How are you today?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9nh0buFoW
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"Not so well. You see, there's this annoying little prick in front of my eyes and it's hard to make it go away. Do you think you can help me with that?" His lips twisted into a nasty smirk.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHUJxrAJ5D
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I reached up and pinched the back on his neck with my nails, making him wince.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WFc7IeUjJ
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"Sorry," I told Jude, "but we have to go. I need to get Christian home before he contracts any more of the asshole disease."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtkHCZtW8W
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Jude let out a small laugh. "I think he's already caught more than that, darling."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqkQR2QJjy
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Christian's body tensed and he made a low growling noise in the back of his throat. Before he could do any permanent damage, I gripped his wrist and pulled him out the door. When we were finally close to our cars, I glared at him.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeoezOfCu9
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"You're so rude. What is wrong with you?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TUaVQOXfo
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There was a hard, unkind way he was looking at me.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNJQ6ths4t
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"I don't want to get into this now, Scott, I just want to go home."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnJeSArdGf
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I shifted uncomfortably, more from his tone than anything else. I glanced at him. "What time are we meeting later?"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKxUNWcF9s
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He frowned and shook his head. "I don't think it's a good idea right now."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWKJHwTWAw
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"Why not?" I asked, my lips twitching. "If it's because of Jude, it's a stupid reason."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyGw6Fde68
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"It's not," Christian said, sighing. "There's just some stuff going on that I need to figure out and I can't do that with you around. I'm sorry."99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV04cP6gAl1
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I stood, watching him get into his car, then I turned around to leave, tears blurring my vision. Jude was standing behind me with his hand outstretched. Something in me worked on its own and I walked toward him.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXKZMgM8Fx
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